GABE, RHYS THOMAS (REES THOMAS GAPE ; 1880-1967), rugby player;
b. 22 June 1880 in Llangennech, Carms. He played locally before representing Llanelli for the first time when he was 17 yrs. old. He won the first of his 24 caps (1901-08) on the wing against Ireland on 21 Mar. 1901. It was as a centre that he gained fame. He possessed all the skills; he was unyielding in defence, when attacking he ran straight and with determination. Deceptive, firm and boney, he was difficult to tackle. In 1901 he began a teachers’ training course at Borough Road College, London, and played for a period with London Welsh. After travelling to Australia with the British team in 1904, he returned to be a teacher in Cardiff, and scored 51 tries in 115 games for the city's club before resigning in 1908. He made a key contribution to the historic Welsh win (3-0) against the All Blacks in 1905, and with Erith Gwyn Nicholls (DWB, 685), William (‘Willie’) Morris Llewellyn and Edward (‘E.T.’) Morgan (see below) he formed the most brilliant three-quarter line that ever played for Wales. He d. 15 Sept. 1967 at Cardiff.
Bibliography:
- W. Thomas, A century of Welsh rugby players (1980);
- David Smith and Gareth Williams, Fields of Praise (1980);
- West. Mail and The Times, 18 Sept. 1967.
Author:
Professor Gareth W. Williams, Aberystwyth
